MUSIC NEWS FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 4TH

NEIL YOUNG'S, Bridge School Benefit concerts,which have spawned lots of cash while raising awareness of autism, have spawned one more cool thing: Lots of lots of great music that you can now download...

As we reported here a few weeks back, iTunes is offereing a compilation of recordings from those concerts. The collection features 80 tracks. You can purchase the album as a whole or as individual tracks but either way, proceeds go directly to the Bridge School.

Highlights include Thom Yorke covering Young's "After the Gold Rush" and playing Radiohead's "Street Spirit" solo, the Wilco live rarity "Bob Dylan's 49th Beard", Smashing Pumpkins' doing "To Sheila", Tom Waits' "Innocent When You Dream", and Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" ...

Also available...live performances from Pearl Jam...REM...and Ryan Adams

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In news that reaffirms my faith in the power of karma...Last night at the Kennedy Centers Honors in New York City, Jessica Simpson basically lost it. After stumbling through a performance of Dolly Parton's "9 to 5", she finished the song abruptly, then left the stage mumbling the words, "so nervous." Nobody in the audience clapped... and when she returned to the stage with the other singers in the tribute, she was hysterically crying.

No word on whether this will make the televised portion of the show coming up later this week, but i'll look for some YouTube footage.

But seriously, that's the way you wanna start your Monday. If that doesn't put a smile on your face, you are made of stone.

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Finally for you on this Monday...

Noel Gallagher treated one lucky Oasis fan to an intimate performance in his front room yesterday, after he won a competition run through England's Radio 1.

The winner of the prize was Ben Hayes from Poynton, who described meeting his hero: "It was just the best day of my life - so far."

He then added, "It was just absolutely amazing. It was just unreal". After the gig, Noel then spent time with Ben, signing his guitar, CDs and Oasis memorabilia.

Speaking about playing in Hayes house, Gallagher said to the press outside: "I said ... you're not coming around to my house - I've just put a new carpet in - I'm not having it".